Tuesday, August 30, 2011

This is a review of a split between The Body from North Carolina That had their previous album reviewed in th zine and Braveyoung from Rhode Land , ths split is called "Nothing Passes" which was released by At A Loss Recordings in 2011 and we will start of the review with The Body that mixes doom/sludge metal with noise.

Noise Effects bring a very dark and avant grde feel to the music with alot of reverb and distortion with some synths and choirs being thrown in.

Drums are all slow beats, while the guitars are mostly very slow and primitive sludege/doom riffs, as for the vocals they are very distorted sounding screams.

In my opinion the 2 songs The Body put on this recording are very good, experimental and different but still should appeal to fans of their music.

Next up is Braveyoung that plays a very psychedelic and noisy form of drone/sludge.

Distortion effects give the music a dark and primitive sound while the synths give the music a very dark, avant garde and demented sound.

Accoustic guitars use full chords to give the music a very dark and psychedelic feel mixed in with distorted parts, while the female vocals are all clean singing that talk alot about religion.

In my opinion this is a good split and very original sounding. RECEMMONDED BUY.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

1. Can you give us a brief history of the band for those that have never heard of you before?
1) Hi everyone,I'm Francesco,the singer of Ever-Frost,a progressive death metal band from Italy.
The project, as you know it now, started in 2008, even if we played together for many years doing some covers. We've been a Sentenced cover band for a couple
of years. Some of us played in other local bands,always doing some cover stuff..you know,all the bands start this way.

2. How would you describe your musical sound?
2) Our sound is a mix of all the different influences brought in by the members of the band. It's hard for me to give a specific definition of "our sound". It could be described as "progressive death metal" with melody as a principal aim. However we do not define ourselves as a melodic death metal band as the
original meaning of the term.

3. What is the meaning behind the band's name?
3) As it is easy deducible our band name comes from a Sentenced song, due to our past as a cover band. We decided not to change the name because we felt that it very well expresses what we perceive of the world around us.

4. What are some of the best shows that you have played so far, and how would you describe your life performance?
4) We participated to a good number of gigs here, with great and celebrated italian bands like "The Modern Age Slavery" and "Murder Therapy". Unfortunately we haven't been able to get out of Italy yet. Here the "live scene" for underground bands is understimated.
Whoever came to one of our gigs always got impressed by our energy, the passion and aggressiveness of our songs, without forgetting the executive technique that we put in our music.

5. Do you have any touring plans?
5) Right now we are dealing with some people in order to bring Ever-Frost outside Italy and maybe outside Europe. However there's nothing sure yet, so I can't get through it specifically

6. How would you describe your musical progress over the years and what direction do you see the band heading into on future releases?
6) Well, I can say that we've done a good work since we were only a simple cover band among all the others. Our first original songs are the ones you can hear on our EP, which everyone can listen to on our myspace page. I can easily tell you that we've got new songs that are going to be recorded on our first full-lenght and that on these songs we put more progressive parts as a natural evolution of our sound. Obviously we never lost the typical aggressiveness of death metal. You'll judge yourselves when you'll hear the new record.

7. How would you describe the lyrical content of the music?
7) My lyrics mainly are about what's happening to the modern-society man of today. I am one among many that thinks that there cannot be an happy ending for human kind if we keep on thinking and acting the way we've done til now. In my words you can find my wish to a change in human mentality, which is currently not happening and that surely will lead us to a nasty future. Anyway I did not lose my hope yet and I'm hoping in some kind of evolution that could bring us to the turning-point that we're waiting for since ever.

8. What are some bands or music styles that have influenced your sound and what are you listening to nowadays?
8)Our musical influences are very heterogeneous as,like said before, all the members of the band constantly bring in their way of perceving music and metal. However I can tell that the most important are surely Dream Theater, Opeth, Dark Tranquillity, At The Gates,etc... In this last period some of us are listening to extremely valid bands like Textures, Lamb Of God, Meshuggah, Alter Bridge, Amorphis, and many others coming from many different kind of metal and rock. As you can imagine, you'll find a lot of different things in our sound.

9. How has the reception been towards your music so far from the metal community?
9)For the moment we are satisfied of the many positive reactions that we got from various Magazines and Webzines, which gave us good impressions, from good to excellent! Moreover the good attendance to our gigs is a sign of love and respect for what we do, and we want to thank all of our fans from the bottom of our hearts for their strong support.

10.When can we expect new material?
10)If everything goes as it is expected to go, we should enter the studio in order to record the full-lenght towards the end of March. Then we'll do our best in order to find a label that helps us distrubuting and promoting the new material all over the world. Unfortunately nowadays is really hard to find a label that offers a decent deal for emerging bands.

11. What are some of your interests outside of music?
11)I'm a good reader, I love history, I really like to have a beer with friends and also going to the cinema. Just simple and normal things.

12. Any final words or thoughts?
12)I would like to thank you and Extreme Underground Music Zine for giving us a chance. Getting some visibility as a band is hard and there are few people
interested in the underground scene. I want to remind to the readers that our EP "The Awakening" can be listened to on our space at www.myspace.com/everfrostband. Come check it out and leave a comment, we always answer to everyone. Thanks everybody!Stay metal!

Friday, August 26, 2011

Ever-Frost are a band from Italy that plays a very progressive form of melodic death/gothic metal and this is a review of the music from their Mysapace page.

Drums are in the progressive vein with alot of slow parts mixed with some blast beats that are not overdone while the bass playing is all rythym and sounds very technical with a low pitched sound.

Rythym guitars cover alot of different ground with some palm muted riffing mixed with alot of progressive metal influences while some of their slower parts reminded me of some of the mid 80's or early 90's thrash ballads that were all over Headbanger's Ball back in those days, as for the guitar leads they contain alot of melodic guitar solos that take alot of skill and talent.

Vocals are mostly high pitched melodic death metal screams in the classic Swedish/Gothenburg vein while the clean singing has a very classic metal feel. The lyrics seem to cover everyday topics, as for the production on the songs they sound professional and you can hear all of the instruments very well.

In my opinion this is a good band for this style of music and instead of going for the more comercial route that some bands in this genre are known to do Ever-Frost bring back alot of classic metal/thrash influences and they add their own twist without sounding or retro,neo, or pseudo and this would be a good band to add to you melodic death metal collection. If you want to hear the music you can go to their myspace page. A recommended band.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

1.Can you tell us a bit of the band, when you formed and what your goals were at the beginning? The band was formed as I met our former Bassplayer and current Merchandiser "Steff" at a Metalpub near my hometown! He had a friend who played guitar and I had a brother who looks like a vocalist. My best friend was a drummer, so two weeks later we had our first band rehearsal in this bog called rehearsalroom without heating a toilett and water, I never forget that we pissed out of the windows from the second floor! Hahaha! We never expected a record deal or a Tour through countries like Spain, Russia, Mexico, France, Italy, Swiss, Hungary, Great Britain, Turkey or Greece, only to name a view, we only wanted to have fun without pressure! I never forget

2. Were did you come up with the band name?
ok here we go: My brother came to our rehearsal room and we discuss together the future bandname! Our former name was Dark Eternity, but we don´t like the name, the design and the sound of it, so we talk and talk and talk and suddenly he took a latin dictionary out of his pocket-don´t ask why he had a latin dictionary in his pocket, I don´t know because he and no one in the band ever had a lesson in latin! but he found these words like lacrimas profundere in it and this means something like: "to shed tears"! you know, we were young and we were drunk, so we liked it!!! that's the story!

3. How would you describe your musical style?
Rock´n´sad - We all like rock Music, but we don´t like the colour in it and the high voices, so we tried to withdraw the rock music its colour, paint it black and mix it with melancholy and a deeeeep voice and traraa: rock´n´sad was born! You know, nobody creates a new wheel in the music scene, its like the question: what could you do better in a Tabledance Bar? Every riff has been played, every breast has been shown and so many words are said, so, as a band, you only can change the mixing proportion! To come to the point, its important that you feel what you do and for us it feels good: to be the whiskey in the coca cola of HIM and the Gin in the tonic water of The Cult - that’s all! Name it james dean metal, mickey rourke rock or rock´n´sad-its all the same: words can´t describe art!

4. What are some of the best live shows that you have played so far?
This year the show at the Wave Gotik Treffen in Leipzig in front of 6000 enthusiastic fans and in the past our Tour in Mexico and the Mera Luna 2007 in front of 25.000 people-Ah don´t forget the Sziget Festival last year, that was great too!

5. Are there any plans for a U.S tour?
We had, in October, but some shitty things happens that makes it impossible for us to come! We´re very frustrated about that situation! But, we found a very good partner in Mama Trash and we hope in Bam Margera-we´re huge fans of him and his shows and he plays our songs many times, for example in his MTV Shows Bam´s unholy union or his new movie Minghags! So, we hope this could help in the future a little bit!

6. How would you describe the musical progress over the years?
At the moment it feels like a Sisters of Mercy Monster with The Cult eyes, Pete Steele legs and a Guns´n´roses cock! so now, we have to domesticate it! Hahaha! You know, we don´t wanted to record the same album ever and ever, because this is as boring as your girlfriend always wears the same underwear, so it was time to search for new adventures! But in my opinion the Building Lacrimas Profundere is still the same but we adorned it new, we throw the garbage out and paint it new! In 1993 we did something like doom death gothic and now its something like gothic-rock-metal!

7. What direction do you see the band heading into during the future?
You know, we always try to compose this one perfect album, an album that inject you our tourfeelings direct in your veins! And I think that you smell the dust of the streets, the smoking air in the Nightliner and the redwine of last night if you listen to our last records. We learned a lot at our tours together with Apocalyptica, Lacuna Coil or The 69 eyes! We went to so many Countries and all these things influenced the music and made LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE to a better band – so we simply wanted to stay in this direction!

8. How good has the distribution been from Nuclear Blast so far -
we have a contract with napalm records! And-sorry boys from Napalm, but we think, you could do it better!

9. How would you describe the lyrical content of the music?
The current record talks about the "last view"! You always read that your whole live comes back like a short trailer in the last seconds of your death! So our record tells the story of this small Nikki Sixx, included alcohol, whores, relationships and drugs! At the last note of the record he´s back in life with the song "while"! So, "life is beautiful", Nikki would say!

10. What are your main influences music wise or non music wise?
Big Mac, Heineken, some good old records and my ESP guitars!!!

11. What are you listening to nowadays and what would you recommend new or old?
Old! I listen to Sister of Mercy Stuff, old Type o Negative, or The Cult! New: I still love the Nikki Sixx Band: Sixx A.M.

12. Does Occultism or Paganism play any role in the music?
No, not in ours!

13. What are some good films or literature that you would recommend?
The Heroin Diaries of Nikki Sixx! I like the book because this guy LIVES!!! And one of the best movies I saw the last time was "Hangover". What a funny and weird movie!

12. How is the scene in Germany for Gothic Metal?
Nowadays not as good as three or four years ago! OK, we entered the Charts here in Germany and the gothic scene is still strong, but there are no new guys who were interested in-the boom is over, but I heard in US it just begins, so, we can´t wait!

13. Any final words?
Thanx a lot for your fantastic support! We wanted to say cheers and hello to everybody who went to our concerts and mainly bought our CD´s! I´m sure we see you all soon! Check out our myspace website at www.myspace.com/lacrimasprofundere, the new videoclip and buy the fuckin new record to fund our next drinks! That’s all for now, bye, your Oliver Nikolas Schmid
14. Thanks for the interview?
Thanx

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Inner Thought where a band from Canada that had a member of Slaughter(Death thrash) that played a style that I would describe as industrial doom/death with a black metal edge and this is a review of their 1994 album "Worldly Seperation" which was released on both Dwell and Withchunt Records.

Drum programming uses a mixture of slow and fast beats while the keyboards enhance the atmosphere of the music and have alot of industrial influences, as for the bass playing it follows the riffs that are coming out of the guitars.

Rhythm guitars are a mixture of slow doom metal riffs and fast death metal riffing, while the lead guitars are melodic and technical sounding solos that use a wah wah pedal and alot of dark sounding scales that sounds very professional.

Vocals are a mixture of deep death metal growls and some high pitched screams that bring a black metal edge to the music with a little bit of clean singing vocals and some samples, while the lyrics cover some anti catholism topics, as well as war and the corruption of mankind, as for the production on this recording which was recorded at THE METAL WORKS in Mississaqa, Ontario, Canada sounds very professional and you can hear all of the musical instruments on this album.

In my opinion Inner Thought where a very underated band for there time and if you are a fan of death metal that mixes doom, black metal and industrial you should check this band out. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Worldly Seperation" "In Ourselves We Trust" and "War". RECOMMENDED BUY.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

1. Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
Robba: After the Sleepers in the rift-session we sort of took a small break.
We haven't rehearsed with a full line-up since then. So the passion has had its months to rebuild,
and now the time is upon us to spread more disease to the listeners.
As far as the album goes it's basically out, and the response has been nothing but delicious.
People are too kind.

Edde: Wating for the album to be released, probably start rehearsing soon. We've got some new tunes as well.

2. How would you describe the musical sound of the new album and how it differs from previous releases?

Robba: People have been saying it sounds like a mix of Severed Survival and Scream Bloody Gore.
Other people say that we sound like Nihilist and Afflicted. And that is a pretty big leap there hehe.
Not to say that we don't appreciate all the kind words, but somtimes it feels like they're throwing names
out there just for the sake of it. The only band that always seems to come up is Autopsy, and that is a given.
They're the main influence. Other than that we just write whatever we feel sounds fucking danceable
and of course the music is infected by whatever we take in. Doom, Punk or crab-core.
Compared to our earlier stuff you could say that this time there have been actual
thoughts of wanting to try something out of the ordinary, which you can hear in some bits of the record.
The future will probably just see more of that side, while the old stuff only wanted to sound old.

Edde: A bit weirder, a bit uglier, a bit better.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the new release explores?

Robba: The titles speak for themselves. There's some necrophilia, some lovecraft, some torture, some black holes,
some other space-shit and a lot of people dying in horrible, horrible ways. My mother would be proud had
she heard what I was singing.

Edde: Anything from zombies and necrophilia to black holes and the beyond.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the album ti title/

Robba: Secret.

Edde: No meaning, really. We just thought it sounded really cool and H.P Lovecraft-ish.

5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?

Edde: I would say the resurrected in festering slime-gig in Stockholm two years ago. Our stage performance makes Kiss look like little wimps.

Robba: That is a sensitive subject for a guy that hates doing live-shows. Right now we're set out to do a killer show
at Live-Evil and we'll see what comes after that.

7. On a worldwide level how has your new album been recieved by death metal fans?

Robba: Like I said earlier the response has been so damn good! We knew we had made an album that like-minded could enjoy,
but when you get comments like, "Best album yet of 2011", it's just insanity. An insanity that motivates you
to write more and more. I'm not going to lie, it feels fucking wonderful.

Edde: The few reviews I've read have been very positive. I've seen a few "it's been done before"-comments, but I take that as "DAMN THAT'S GOOD!" Haha.

8. Are there any side projects besides this band or is this a full time line up?

Robba: Everyone in the band has other stuff going. Adam has his funky rock-trio "Red Strike", and Dag plays in "Plaguebearer"
which I've spent the day listening to and it's abnormally fuckin' disgusting. Edde is a punk! It's all really good stuff!
Myself I just enjoy writing different kinds of music. But it rarely embodies into something complete. I have many balls in the air
right now. Kinky.

Edde: All the members have side projects, everything from punk to 70's rock.

9. What direction do you see the music heading into on future releases?

Edde: Into the void.

Robba: I have a growing will to do something that other old school bands aren't doing. Basically trying to separate yourself from the rest.
Weird structures and "what the fuck?!"-moments, but still keeping the maggot infested worms in your ass.
Maybe it will shine through in the future, maybe not.

10. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your new album and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Edde: Big fan of Autopsy and Deathstrike. Also, Zeke is killer!

Robba: All in all it's a mix of death, doom and punk and a whole lot of druggy psychedelic 70's shit. The latter isn't as hearable though haha.
After having been addicted to it in digital-form, I just recieved the Nekropsalms-album with Obliteration.
It's the best death metal record of the last ten years, easily!

11. Outside of music what are some of your interests/

Robba: I enjoy spending time with myself and not only as a synonym for masturbating.
Things like watching a movie, playing a game, drinking a bear or two, taking something illegal once in a while.
I'm looking forward to a stressless life on a bench, wrapped in newspapers and five layers of flannel-shirts.

Monday, August 8, 2011

1. Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?

At this moment that band is just Alex Coelho and I, again. We have taken a small break from touring and playing live. Our last tours were great and we had a blast, but right now we are kinda re-tooling for our next phase. We definitely wanna have a new album out in the 12 months, we just have to get a few ducks in the row.

2. How would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the digital ep and how it differs from previous releases?

Hour of the Wolf (our debut record) was a very heavy, dense production. We weren't really a band when we wrote those songs, so sonically we were still trying to figure out who were. I'm happy with that record as it was a stepping stone, but the production of that record was us trying to figure a few things out. On this new release we approached things a little different. Our influence for it was early 80's post punk bands like The Cure, The Cult, Joy Division/New Order. All of the bands mentioned always had a great vibe. So rather then bludgeoning people to death with massive overdubs of guitar, we tried create more of an atmosphere around the songs. I think, for us, its definitely a step in the right direction...

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the ep?

They are based a few short stories and poems that I wrote. I write all the time, most of it will ever get released or published. Most of it is pretty dark, introspective stuff. So when I translate it lyrically I try to interpret it so people can wrap their heads around it and make sure I don't come off like a pretentious ass.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?

It just came to us. I wrote it down on a piece of paper, and the band dug it. The rest is history....

5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?

Our best show was May 15th, 2010 at Public Assembly in Brooklyn, NY. 300 people showed up, it was pretty surreal! We are a four piece band, and have that classic model. Everyone holds down their own and brings as much energy as possible. There is soo much more I wanna do but we dont have the money yet to do it.

6. Do you have any tourng plans for the future?

We do. But right now I don't seeing it happen until after our next full length comes out and we are ot to sure when that is gonna be.

7. Are there any side projects besides this band or is this a full time line up?

Hmm..I'm not to sure about that at this point. The band is just Alex and I, and we are fully committed to making this work on a full-time level. When we find the right guys I think it will be a full-time situation again. We all jam with different guys people from time to time though, nothing serious though!

8. On a worldwide level how has the digital ep been received by underground metal fans?

Everything has fallen into the "so far,so good" category. Its has been well received by the underground press and we have sold a few copies to boot. Not bad considering we have no label and no distribution

9. What direction do you see the music heading into on future releases?

I'm not sure about that. We will always stay true to ourselves and no be swayed by hip trends. I think time will tell as the artistic process usually evolves naturally..

10. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced the new material and also wha are you listening to nowadays?

God that would be a hell-of-a list! Our past influences would be everything you expect and probably a few surprises. Right now, I'm listening to YOB, Dark Castle, Earthride, Monster Magnet, and I'm really tripping on the new Alice in Chains

11. Outside of music what are some of your interests?

My other passion outside of music is film. I'm currently working on two screenplays, and I'm releasing my second comic book. Alex Coelho is a great write and is currently working on a series of short stories. Art is life.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Seven Sisters Of Sleep are a band from Southern California that plays a very brutal form of sludge/doomcore and this is a review of their self titled 2011 which was released by Southern Lord Records.

Drums range from slow to mid paced drumming with some ocassional fast playing and blast beats, while the bass playing has a very heavy tone with some brutal sounding sludge/doom riffing.
Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast riffing that combines doom metal with sludge mixed in with a great amount of distortion and there are little to no guitar solos or leads present on this recording.

Vocals are a mixture of sludge and doom metal growls, while the lyrics touch on hateful and everyday themes, as for the production it has a very raw and riffing sound but still professional enough to the point where you can hear all of the musical instruments.

In my opinion Seven Sisters Of Sleep are a very good sludge/doomcore band and if you are a fan of this style, you should check out this band. RECOMMONDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Monasteries" "Follow The Serpent" and "Swamp". RECOMMONDED BUY.

1.Can you tell us a little bit about the band for those that have never heard of you before?
LI: We are based in San Francisco. We play Death Metal.
KH: Sounds from the underworld.
DB: We got together first as Corpus. It was just me, Kyle, RD and a friend Spencer. It was meant to be a side project. We recorded 8 or 9 songs. Never released it. We had a range of influences then. We knew Leila from Saros. I am a big fan of theirs. She had seen Acephalix many times and appreciated our music and ideas. We thought Corpus could use a second guitarist so we asked her to join. We kept some songs but decided to started writing in a more death/doom vein. She came up with the name Vastum.

2. How would you describe your musical sound?

LI: We take inspiration from everything that is obscure in music. We sound dark low tuned death metal with low fucked up vocals and lyrics.
DB: Primitive death metal.
3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the music explores?
DB: We write about relationships between sexuality, violence, the unconscious, animality, desire, emotions, religion, corporeality, etc. There is also definitely a vision to explore perversion from a dark perspective, which is to say the under-explored perspective (i.e. non-male, non-heterosexual). This is why, in a primarily psychoanalytic sense, patricide is an important lyrical topic to both Vastum and Acephalix. The Father is the head. The Father is in belligerent denial of his own perversion. This perversion rests in deviating from the lawlessness of animality. So we have perversion born of perversion yet masquerading as civilization, the Father’s civilization. This civilization is structured by symbolic order: Man, Woman, Father, Mother, Brother, Sister... But really there is only Father. Language doesn’t permit the signification of any authentic self outside the Father. There is only Father-other. There is no Mother, no Brother. There is only Father. Unbeknownst to himself, it’s the Father whose suffering is deepest. It stems from an ancient shame related to the incest taboo. We are all infected with this shame. Certain spiritual, psychoanalytic, religious tools are a means of uprooting this shame and living in the grief and joy of a lawless, unpredictable, healthily violent existence. These are some ideas I like to write about.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?

LAR: Vastum comes from the Latin term Vastus which simultaneously means waste, emptiness, vastness. It perfectly sums up what we write songs about: the waste, the filth that is a natural part of ourselves and the core of our pleasure as human beings, and that, through being “civilized”, we are taught to deny and feel shameful about, and stow away from hidden view.
DB: Vastum means waste in Latin. To me it means all the shit we’d rather just forget, the waste of our pasts, our ideas, our emotions, the waste of society. From a Bataillean perspective it means the ‘accursed share’--the cursed gift.

5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?
LAR: I think the best shows we’ve played so far were two of our shows in West Oakland- one with Atriarch, and the other with Anhedonist, Ealdath and Dispirit. Our very first show early last year was pretty magical as well. Our stage performance varies; Dan engages more closely with the audience more than the rest of us, since he is the lead vocalist. Some nights the performances are crazier than others.

DB: The first show was kind of incredible. People responded really well.
My stage performance is unpredictable. I like to think I’m becoming an animal, that I’m performing animality. This means I try to lose control, which can happen physically by writhing and flailing around on stage but ultimately this loss of control is more of an ‘inner’ event. It can happen when I’m stationary. And in that moment the performance is immanent. I don’t need to make you believe it. I just need to be there. Unemployed negativity. But for me this is a challenge. The immanent moment is obstructed by many layers of ego.
6. Do you have any touring plans for the future?

LAR: Yes, we will be playing some Pacific Northwest dates in July, and plan to do more touring after our schedules free up from our other bands and tours.
DB: We are going to the Northwest in the first weekend of July to play a couple shows with our friends in Anhedonist. And we will be doing more touring beyond that for sure.
7. Currently you are singed to 20 Buck Spin, how did you get in contact with this label and how would you describe the support that they have given you so far?

LAR: We’re not officially “signed” to anybody. I contacted 20 Buck Spin earlier this year about releasing Carnal Law, sent them a cassette version and they liked it enough to put it out on cd. We’re grateful, and they’ve been incredibly supportive.
8. What is going on with the other bands these days?

KH: Acephalix is in the middle of recording a new album and is doing a West American underground Death Metal Tour with Undergang from Denmark in the end of May and then a European tour in Sep. Me and Luca have a new Death Metal band called Necrot that is writing right now and will be recording a demo in Aug.
LAR: I just finished recording my first album with Hammers of Misfortune. Amber Asylum is writing new material and will be touring Europe again in November 2011.
9. on a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music from death/doom metal fans?

LI: People around here liked the show…
LAR: Really positive; I’m amazed at how much press, local and worldwide, there has been already, even before the album’s release date.
10. What direction do you see the music heading into on future releases?
DB: I see it heading down the same path of dark, primitive death metal.
LI: The music direction is the same we took when we started. We’re just gonna get always better at it.
KH: More focused, More Evil.

11. What are some band or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
KH: Early Slayer, Abhorrence(Finland), Rottrevore, Early Cannibal Corpse, Convulse, Anatomia, Grave, early Immolation, Funebrarum, Early Morbid Angel.
LAR: Early Cathedral, Winter, early Carcass…
DB: Lots. Early Tiamat and Therion, Mythic, early The Chasm, Mystic Charm, Morpheus Descends, Torchure, Autopsy, early Cenotaph, Nuclear Death, current stuff: Sonne Adam, Antedilluvian, Blessed Offal, Anhedonist, Undergang, Necrovation, Grave Miasma, Burial Invocation, Vassafor, a lot more...

12. Does Occultism play any role in the music?
DB: I’d say religion plays a role, but not so much occultism. Religion in the sense of the french word religare. Translations of this word are “to bind” or to “reconnect”. Bataille famously wrote religion is the search for a lost intimacy. Vastum (and Acephalix) take up this idea, foolishly embarking on that search down a pathless path that seems to go somewhere.
KH: Death Metal is an important part of my spiritual path and expression so there is no separation of the two for me.
13. outside of music, what are some of your interests?

KH: Meditation, Yoga, Sex. Experiencing the sensual aspect of this reality.
LAR: I have a graduate degree in Audiology and Speech Sciences. I’m interested in the relationship between language development and the brain. I don’t have any interest in working professionally in this field (anymore), but it is a hobby interest of mine and always a fascinating conversation to have with others who study it as well. I love learning foreign languages but don’t speak any other language than English fluently. I’ve been working in the nonprofit fields for seven years, because I like to help people in need, and it also pays my bills. I like to travel a lot, and always have a desire to learn from others.
14. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
DB: No additional words other than thank you for the interview.
KH: Pay attention, this is all there is.

Drainland are a band from Dublin, Ireland that plays a mixture of sludge and crust/punk with a grindcore edge and this is a review of their 2011 album "And So Our Troubles Began" which will be released by Southern Lord Records.

Drums range fromm slow to midpaced drumming with some ocassional fast parts and blast beats, while the bass playing has a very strong, thick and heavy tone that is very easy to hear on this recording.

Rhythm guitars range from slow to midpaced riffing that combines sludge and crust punk together with the faster riffing bringing in the grindcore influences and there is a small use of acoustic guitars being used briefly on one song as well as distorted noise effects throughout the album, and there are little to no lead guitars or solos present on this recording.

Vocals are mostly midrange sludge metal screams mixed in with some ocassional deep vocals and crustcore style sgouting, while the lyrics cover everyday hateful themes, a for the production it sounds very raw nd heavy but still professional enough to the point where you can hear all of the musical instruments.

In my opinion Drainland are a very good sludge/crust punk band and id you are a fan of this style, you should check out this band. RECEMMONDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Jellyfish" "Rebuilding Salem" and "Somnial Hex". RECEMMONDED BUY.

Intterview done by whole band
> 1. Can you tell us a little bit about the band for those that have never heard of you before?

Ilsa is the cumulative result of years of playing in a moldy basement with piece-meal equipment, between endless depression, brews, blunts, and the best films ever captured on celluloid.
> 2. How would you describe the musical sound of the new album?

"Tutti i Colori del Buio" was recorded in May of last year, and while the direction of the band hasn't changed course dramatically since then, we've definitely sought to move away from being pigeon-holed as any identifiable sound or genre. Everything is slower on the newer material, everything is heavier, and we continue making a stronger push to create a truly tormented and ghastly sonic landscape.
> 3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjests the new release explores?

As Salome caresses the severed head of John the Baptist in Richard Strauss' operatic version of the Oscar Wilde play, she sings, "Das geheimnis der Leibe ist grosser als das geheimnis des Todes" (the mystery of love is greater than the mystery of death). This beautiful/horrible duality is constant inspiration, and the basis of all Ilsa's lyrics.
> 4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?
Ilsa is the lead character in a string of sado-masochistic grindhouse features that epitomize western low-budget films of the 1970's. While on the surface they can be considered thee most perverse, sexploitation-horror series ever made, we insist the 4 Ilsa films contain bizarro queer and feminist subtexts that, while mostly unintentional, pervade the entire series. Cross-gender identification, male fears of lack, queer sexuality, and glimpses into the mechanics of power draw to mind anarchist poet and filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini's, "Salo, or 120 Days in Sodom". Curiously, "Salo" was actually released after "The She-Wolf of the SS", making us wonder if Pasolini realized the potential of Ilsa's skeletal, near pornographic narrative to draw a critique of late-capitalism and the sexual politics of fascism. Perhaps if Disney/Anchor Bay ever cease-and-desist our use of their franchise we'll change our name to SALO, but hopefully not before we get a chance to work with modern horror's first and best female villain, Dyanne Thorne.

> 5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?

Unfortunately, the best shows we've played usually end up being the ones we remember the least, but performing at the Electric Maid in Takoma Park with Torche, Transgression, Sick Fix, and Lemuria was epic. The pigs shut it down before the last band, yet within minutes the Corpse Fortress, one of the area's longest running venues and punk houses, saved the night by offering to host the final band. Everyone hopped on their bikes and into their cars to parade over and bring down the house with an awesome set by Torche that literally rattled the foundation. We didn't sound the best that night, but it was an amazingly fun show none the less.
Stage presence is not really a focus of the band. We tend to end up with our backs to the crowd, but mainly out of awkwardness. Playing a type of music that is in itself incredibly theatrical, we focus on spontaneity and intensity in our performances over light shows or cool costumes.

> 6. Do you have any touring plans for the new release?

We have been lucky enough to be invited to play Hooded Menace's east coast dates when they come to America for the first time this May, as well as with Seattle's mighty Anhedonist, who've reared their ugly heads recently with a great demo that has been repressed to vinyl on Parasitic Records. Touring is difficult for us because of work schedules, so as of now, the only other out of town dates we will be playing are a string of shows in December as we drive out for Rites of Darkness fest in San Antonio.

> 7. On a worldwide level how has your music been recieved by doom/death/crust fans?

We've been shocked and stoked on how well "Tutti i Colori.." has been received internationally. Through blog posts and message boards, the album reached a larger audience than we ever could have hoped to garner through traditional media. To suddenly have hype surrounding a project is strange after all playing music for years, but we'd never say it was undeserved. The potential to eventually tour outside of America is very exciting, and we hope down the line we can make it a reality.
> 8. Are there any other projects besides this band or is this a full time line-up?

Sharad plays in a thrash band called Spinebuster, and Garrett has a solo noise project and plays in a snotty punk band called The Coits, but Ilsa is everyone's primary focus.
> 9. What direction do you see the music heading into on future rleases?

Down that left-hand path, with some surprises up our filthy alley along the way.
> 10. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

We dislike unending comparisons and "For Fans Of" stickers plastered all over records and reviews these days. All of us listen to as much music as we can, and would never claim to be uninfluenced by other bands, but it takes away some of the joy of discovery for listeners to know exactly what's shaped our sound. To many people it will be obvious, but we all have eclectic range and interests, and try to incorporate whatever works into the music.
> 11. Outside of music, what are some of your interests?

Movies, reading, drawing, bicycles, dogs, all sorts of sex, travelling, drugs, and uh movies.
> 12. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?

We are a band that loves correspondence. Email us at pressingtheflesh@gmail.com for inquiries about artwork, splits, touring, anything! Hail the death of the future, raise the flesh!

1. Can you tell us a little bit about the band for those that have never heard of you before? we are based out of northern ILLINOISE,and WISCONSIN.
we are a two piece band that switches interments.gore,sex,bbq fiendz.
burzum meets cavity..
Anthony Wong from Ebola Syndrome chopping you up and preparing you for some "bbq porkbuns"

2. How would you describe the musical sound of the new album and how does it differ from previos releases? all the same,recorded on cassette tape on one track total diy.dirty,raw.all materal free jam no rehearsal.smoke,drink jam.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects that the new release explores? LUST-SEX,BBQ,GRILLING,DEATH,GORE WHORES

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?
WELL LINCOLN-the land of lincoln,that means illinois,love log -means penis.+(ILLINOIS COCK)

5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?the last show was in chicago april 16th.on stage grilling ,blood,sickness.a full on jam

6. Do you have any touring plans for the future?we are subpost to tour in portland,or w/ eyehategod??/
we will see if that pans out, wait on the man.

7. Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label, and if so what kind of label do you think would be a perfect fit forthe band? we are on 3 different labels, the current 7`` record and bbqhell cd is on goatgrind records from
switzerland.

8. On a worldwide level, how has your music been recieved by doom/sludge/grindcore fans? over seas fan dig the musick more that usa, but we are a mix of stoner/doom/sludge/gore/grind. so we both types of fans. a fine line line if you like it you do,its not for every grind/doom fans.more hated than loved. haahhhaaaa.we are not out to please the fans,just jam tunes,if you dig it kool,if thats kool too.try to keep it underground!!!!!!

9. Are there any side projects besides this band or is this a full time line-up?
side projects yes, tom is in old voice, gregg is in gangulated pus,convulsions,1247 just side projects LLL in full time

10. What are some bands or musical styles that have inluenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?CAVITY,IMPETIGO,CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER,HELL HAMMMER, DR.KNOW,SATHANAS,REPULSION,AUTOPSY,CIANIDE,CARDIAC ARREST,
..,FECULENT GORETOMB,master,gism,septic death,CBT,fang....noise,metal,punk,crust,prono,black metal,industrail,grind of the underground of shocking horror,gore,xxx sleaze,sexual astrology,mystical shit,european & asin fetish,mayhem destruction,sataic erotic tortured naked women that makes you shit your pants...

11. Outside of music, what are some of your interests?
FISHING,BOATING,4 WHEELING, FARMING im just a hillbilly!!!!

12. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
thanx for the interview!!! stay sick keep the bbq warm.

Ilsa are a band from Washington D.C that mixes death, doom metal and crustcore together and this is a review of their 2011 album "Tutti Il Colori Del Buio" which was released by Dark Descent Records.

Drums range from slow, midpaced to fast drumming with some blast beats, while he bass playing sounds very powerful and heavy and when you can hear the instrument it is some very devasting doom/sludge riffing.

Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast riffs that combine death and doom metal with crustcore with one song having a thrash edge and there are little to no guitar solos or leads present on this recording

Vocals are mostly high pitched grindcore screams with some deep death metal growls being thrown in at times, while the lyrics touch on subjects that you would see in explotation movies, as for the production it has a very powerful, raw and heavy sound to it with all of the musical instruments sounding very brutal.

In my opinion Ilsa are a very good sludge/crust/doom metal band with a death metal edge, and if you are a fan of this style, you should check this band out. RECOMMONDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Blood Rituals" "Butcher's Castle" "Mo Man's Land" and "Roving Blade". RECOMMONDED BUY.

Lincoln Love Log are a band from Illinois that plays a mivture of sldge/doom metal and grindcore and this is a review of their self released 2011 album "Bbq Hell".

Drums are mostly slow with some fast playing and butal blast beats ing ud n casion, while the bass playing has a powerful tonw with a bunch of slow and sludgy riffs.

Rhythm guitatrs are mostly slow sludege/doom metal riffs that have a stoner vibe to them wit a great amount of heavy distortion and some fast noise/grindco riffing beng used on a couple of songs and there are little to no guitar solos or leads present on this recording.

Vocals are mostly high pich sodge/grnid vocals with some spoken word passages, he the lris cover barbeque thmes, as r th prdion i has a very heavy and raw sond it.

In my opinion Lincoln Love Log are a very good sludge/doom/grindcore band and if you are lookng for a band that mixes these styles together, you should check out this band. RECCEMODED TRACKS INCLUDE "Spare Rib Holocaust" "Camel Toe" Hot Sauce" and "Mondo Macabro". RECEMMENED BUY.

Vastum are a band from San Francisco that plays a very dark and brutal form of doom/death metal and this is a review of their 2011 album "Carnal Law" which will be released by 20 Buck Spin.

Drums are mostly slow to mid paced drumming that is very heavy and brutal with some fast playing and blast beats, while the bass playing has a very dark and heavy tone with some very brutal doom/death metal riffing.

Rhythm guitars range from slow to mid paced riffing that combine the heaviest elements of doom and death metal and the faster riffing has a thrash edge, while the lead guitars are very slow death/doom metal guitar solos that have a melodic edge at times.

Vocals are mostly deep death metal growls with some high pitched screams being thrown in at times with some brief spoken word passages, while the lyrics cover Abjection, Eroticism, and Death with a touch of psycho-analysis, as for the production it has a very dark, raw and heavy sound to it but still professional enough to the point that you can hear all of the musical instruments.

In my opinion Vastum are a very good brutal doom/death metal band and if you are a fan of this style, you should check out this band. RECOMMONDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Devoid" and "Spirit Abused". RECOMMONDED BUY.

Weedeater are a band from Wilmington, North Carolina that plays I style that i would describe as being stoner/sluge/doom metal and this is a review of their 2011 album "Jason The Dragon" which will be released by Southern Lord Records.

Drums are mostly slow to midpaced drumming with no fast playing or blast beats, while the bass playing sounds very heavy and powerful with some evil sounding stoner/doom metal riffs, as for the piano that is used on the least song, it has an avant garde feel to it.

Rhythm guitars are mostly slow to midpaced stoner/doom metal riffs that utilize alot of distortion that have a 70's rock feel to them and there are little to no lead guitars or solos present on this recording, as for the slide guitars when they are utilized they have an avant garde as well as a country music feel to them.

Vocals are all high pitched sludge/doom metal screams, while the lyrics deal with fantasy, smoking weed, getting high and drinking, as for the production it sounds very heavy and professional sounding.

In my opinion this is a good album from Weedeater and if you where a fan of their previous albums, you will not be dissapointed. RECEMMONDED TRACKS INCLUDE "The Great Unfurling" "Turkey Warlock" and "Jason The Dragon". RECEMMONDED BUY.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Atriarch are a band from Portland, Oregon that plays a style that combines doom metal, sludge, experimental, death rock and gothic music together to create a sound that is very original and this is a review of their 2011 album "Forever the End' which was released by Seventh Rule Recordings.

Drums are mostly slow drumming with no fast playing or blast beats present on this recording except for the last song`, while the bass playing has a very powerful and heavy sound with slow doomy riffs that are very brutal sounding, as for the synths when they are utilized they bring a very dark, primal and avant garde feel to the music..

Rhythm guitars are all slow riffs that combine influences from doom metal, sludge, experimental, death rock and gothic music that are very distorted and weird sounding with some melodies being thrown in at times with the last song having some slow and soft playing mixed in with some faster riffing and there are little to no guitar solos or leads present on this recording.

Vocals are a combination of mournful cries that are very avant garde sounding and high pitched screams, while the lyrics cover dark and depressing themes, as for the production it is very dark , powerful and heavy sounding.

In my opinion Atriarch are a very good experimental sludge/doom metal band and if you are looking for something that is very original sounding in this genre, you should check out this band. RECEMMONDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Shadows" and "Downfall". RECEMMONDED BUY.